The ArtsQuest Foundation honored this year’s Linny Awards recipients Oct. 23 at the Musikfest Café, ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem.

This year’s Linny Awards recipients include:

Lifetime Achievement Award: Thomas M. Riddle, CPA, CFP

Philanthropy in the Arts Award: Chuck Stehly

Business Supporter of the Arts Award: PPL Foundation (Lissette Santana accepting on their behalf)

Emerging Artist of the Year: Jake Supreme

Visual Artist of the Year: Mallory Zondag

Arts Educator of the Year: MaryJo Rosania Harvie

Performing Artist of the Year: Matt Pfeiffer

Student Artist Scholarship Award: Todd Croslis

Volunteer of the Year: Jada Amirah Lewis

Erika Petrozelli and Jennifer Ward presented their dad, Thomas M. Riddle, with his Lifetime Achievement Award. Riddle is founder and chairman of Valley Financial Advisers.

The Bethlehem awardee toasted ArtsQuest President and CEO Kassie Hilgert and ArtsQuest while encouraging them to continue supporting “human-centered arts” in the face of the “good and bad” of emerging AI technology.

“The arts are a critical component of a vibrant community,” acknowledged Bethlehem Township entrepreneur and consultant Chuck Stehly as he accepted the Philanthropy in the Arts Award.

Bethlehem Township resident Jada Amirah Lewis garnered the Volunteer of the Year honor. The 16-year-old has been active in volunteer work since she was six. Her latest project involves assisting school children with hydroponic gardening in an effort to address food insecurity. “I will hopefully get to move on to another project and continue to help inspire the youth,” said Lewis.

For more than a quarter-century, Marlene “Linny” Fowler of Bethlehem worked tirelessly to elevate the Lehigh Valley’s arts organizations and artists through her volunteerism and her support. Now, the region celebrates its flourishing arts community and honors Fowler’s memory by taking part in the Linny Awards, the multidiscipline arts awards program focused on the greater Lehigh Valley’s artists, innovators, and arts leaders.

For more information, visit artsquest.org/past-linny-awards-recipients/